Location and classification
Steinberg is a registered single vineyard in the Guntersblum district Guntersblum. It is located in the Nierstein area and within the Großlage Krötenbrunnen in Rheinhessen. The registered vineyard area is 115.4 hectares; the wine-growing site number is 720516. Historically, the site was documented in 1444 as “off dem Steyneberge”.
Climate and soils
The Guntersblum Steinberg is described as a hot, dry vineyard site. Together with the sunny slope, it is one of the higher-lying vineyard sites in the Guntersblum area; the higher position is associated with a longer ripening period.
Löss over Pararendzina and löss over Tschernosem are documented. The löss consists of calcareous windblown dust deposited during the ice ages. Pararendzina is a deep, light-coloured loam with clayey silty material, a high water-storage capacity available to plants, a calcareous composition, and good root penetration. The löss-Tschernosem profile is described as particularly rich in humus and capable of deep root penetration.
Wine style
On löss and Pararendzina, wines are associated with yellow fruit aromas as well as notes of apple, peach, pear and citrus. They show a rather lean, refreshing structure, gentle acidity and a medium body. For löss over Tschernosem, fruit-forward wines are described with citrus, apple, pear and peach notes, rounded acidity, medium body and a fuller texture.
Grape varieties
Dornfelder, Schwarzriesling, Portugieser, Spätburgunder, Rotberger, Grauburgunder and Silvaner are documented in the vineyard plantings of a local producer at Steinberg and on the sunny slope.
